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CEO & Publisher: Oh Young-jinDigital News Email: webmaster@koreatimes.co.krTel: 02-724-2114Online newspaper registration No: 서울,아52844Date of registration: 2020.02.05Masthead: The Korea TimesCopyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.

President Yoon faces uphill battle upon return to work

President Yoon Suk-yeol poses with thespians as one of them takes a selfie after a play at a theater in Daehangno, Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of presidential officeTough economy, low job approval rating bear on Yoon's downtimeBy Nam Hyun-wooDaunting tasks await President Yoon Suk-yeol as he will return to work on Monday after going on leave for one week. Soaring consumer prices and the negative public sentiment of the Yoon administration are two of the pressing issues he must overcome.During his vacation since Aug. 1, Yoon has been staying at his residence in Seoul. He watched a performance at a theater in Seoul on Wednesday and spoke over the phone with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday. Except these two known activities, little is known about how he spent his first vacation since he took office on May 10. Presidential aides said Yoon used the time to rest and explored ideas that can help him tighten his grip on state affairs. When he returns, awaiting him are grave economic difficulties as soaring consumer prices and steep rate hikes are weighing heavily on the public's l

Aug 5, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo
President Yoon faces uphill battle upon return to work
  • Yoon's approval rating hits new low amid controversies over personnel appointments

Yoon's approval rating hits new low amid controversies over personnel appointments

President Yoon Suk-yeol at the presidential office in Seoul's Yongsan District, July 29. Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoonPresident Yoon Suk-yeol's approval rating has sunk to the lowest since he took office in May, amid controversies over his personnel appointments and leadership turmoil in the ruling party, a poll showed Friday.Yoon's approval rating came to 24 percent, down 4 percentage points from the previous week, while 66 percent negatively assessed his handling of state affairs, up 4 percentage points. The poll was conducted by Gallup Korea on 1,001 voters nationwide from Tuesday to Thursday.Yoon's approval rating more than halved from 53 percent and his disapproval rating doubled from 33 percent since the second week of June.In Friday's poll, the rate of negative assessment was higher in most of responding groups, except for those in their 70s or above and ruling People Power Party (PPP) supporters.As reasons for disapproval, Yoon's personnel choices were cited the most at 23 percent, followed by lack of experience and qualifications at 10 percent, dogmatism at 8 percent and

Aug 5, 2022
Yoon's approval rating hits new low amid controversies over personnel appointments
  • President Yoon faces uphill battle upon return to work

Kim, Pelosi agree to support efforts for denuclearization of North Korea

Korean National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo, right, bumps fists with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi prior to their talks at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday. YonhapNational Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo and U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday they agreed to support efforts by Seoul and Washington for the denuclearization of North Korea, voicing concerns over the North's escalating threats. "The two sides expressed concern over the grave situation in which North Korea's level of threat is heightening," said Kim, reading a joint press statement following a meeting between the two speakers. "Based on a powerful and extended deterrence against North Korea that our public can recognize, we agree to support the two governments' efforts for denuclearization and peace through international cooperation and diplomatic dialogues," the statement said. The speakers noted the expanding ties between the allies, mentioning how the South Korea-U.S. alliance has been widening to areas, such as defense security, the economy and technology.To better support these ties, Kim said the sp

Aug 4, 2022
Kim, Pelosi agree to support efforts for denuclearization of North Korea
  • Seoul wary of 'Pelosi effect' on ties with Beijing
  • Nancy Pelosi vs. Lee Jun-seok
  • Yoon to speak by phone with US House Speaker Pelosi

Pelosi to meet Nat'l Assembly speaker amid heightened regional tensions over Taiwan visit

U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is welcomed by U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg and Gen. Paul LaCamera, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, after arriving at Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, 65 kilometers south of Seoul, on Aug. 3, to meet with SoutU.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was set to hold talks with National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo in Seoul on Thursday amid heightened regional tensions in the wake of her high-profile visit to Taiwan.Pelosi arrived in Seoul on Wednesday night from Taiwan where she reaffirmed unwavering U.S. commitment to the island amid angry protests from China. Beijing announced live-fire military drills around Taiwan in protest.On Thursday, she was to meet with Kim for talks about regional security, economic cooperation and other pending issues. Also attending the meeting will be the floor leaders of the ruling People Power Party and the main opposition Democratic Party.Her two-day trip also includes a visit to the inter-Korean truce village of Panmunjom later Thursday.Her delegation includes House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory Meeks and

Aug 4, 2022
Pelosi to meet Nat'l Assembly speaker amid heightened regional tensions over Taiwan visit
  • Seoul wary of 'Pelosi effect' on ties with Beijing
  • Nancy Pelosi vs. Lee Jun-seok
  • Yoon to speak by phone with US House Speaker Pelosi

Nancy Pelosi vs. Lee Jun-seok

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi speaks at a meeting with Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen (not pictured) at the presidential office in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday. Reuters-YonhapPelosi's Taiwan visit, Lee's Ukraine trip generated different reactions in their respective home countries; why? By Kang Hyun-kyungU.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's arrival in Taiwan on Wednesday, despite China's furious reaction which materialized in a menacing military show of force, has made some Koreans like me want to revisit Lee Jun-seok's week-long trip to war-torn Ukraine two months ago, shortly after the June 1 local elections.The two high-profile visits to the regions with high levels of security risk ― albeit of very different types ― generated contrasting reactions in each of the figures' domestic political contexts. Pelosi is seen as a determined and principled politician who risked her own safety for her life-long mission to protect democracy and human rights, whereas Lee's Ukraine visit left some of his party members and society more broadly cynical of his motives. Pelosi, 82, and

Aug 3, 2022By Kang Hyun-kyung
Nancy Pelosi vs. Lee Jun-seok
  • Seoul wary of 'Pelosi effect' on ties with Beijing
  • Pelosi to meet Nat'l Assembly speaker amid heightened regional tensions over Taiwan visit
  • Kim, Pelosi agree to support efforts for denuclearization of North Korea

Lee Jae-myung claims innocence amid corruption probe

Rep. Lee Jae-myung, a leading candidate for the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea's chairman post, speaks during a press conference at the National Assembly in Seoul, Wednesday. YonhapHopes of winning ― and keeping ― party leadership hinge on possible indictment for ex-presidential candidateBy Jung Min-hoRep. Lee Jae-myung, a leading candidate for the opposition Democratic Party of Korea's top post, claimed his innocence Wednesday amid an ongoing investigation into corruption allegations surrounding him and his family, accusing prosecutors and police of “colluding” with certain politicians. The risk of being prosecuted stands as the biggest obstacle to his ambition of controlling the party for the next two years. Lee, 57, leads the two other shortlisted candidates ― Rep. Park Yong-jin and Rep. Kang Hoon-sik ― by a comfortable margin. But if he is indicted ― before or after its Aug. 28 national convention ― his role could be suspended under the party rules.“There is no evidence despite years of accusations,” Lee said in his first press conference a

Aug 3, 2022By Jung Min-ho
Lee Jae-myung claims innocence amid corruption probe

Yoon appoints YTN reporter as PR planning secretary

Senior presidential secretary for public relations Choi Young-bum speaks during a press conference at the presidential office on July 17. The presidential office said Wednesday it appointed former YTN reporter Lee Ki-jeong as secretary for public relations planning. Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoonPresident seeks rebound in approval rating by enhancing PR strategyBy Nam Hyun-wooLee Ki-jeongPresident Yoon Suk-yeol has tapped Lee Ki-jeong, a reporter and head of the digital news center at broadcaster YTN, as a presidential secretary for public relations planning, in an apparent bid to promote his policy agenda to revive his abysmal job approval ratings. According to the presidential office, Wednesday, Yoon appointed Lee, 59, to the post, citing his experience covering politics and broadcasting production. “Given those backgrounds, we expect Lee will upgrade our efforts in setting up Yoon's presidential identity and public relations plans,” a presidential official said in a press briefing. “It took time for us to find the right people, and he will begin his work at th

Aug 3, 2022By Nam Hyun-woo
Yoon appoints YTN reporter as PR planning secretary

Kookmin University denies first lady plagiarism allegations

President Yoon, left, and first lady Kim Keon-hee pose during Yoon's official trip to Spain for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in this June 30 file photo. Korea Times fileUniversity judges papers 'inappropriate,' draws backlash from DPK lawmakers over resultsBy Lee Hae-rinKookmin University has cleared first lady Kim Keon-hee of allegations of having plagiarized some of her academic papers and dissertation, which she produced when she attended the university's Graduate School of Techno Design.The university unveiled the results on Monday after an eight-month probe into two of Kim's research papers and her Ph.D. thesis that she submitted, saying that they didn't find any serious violations of the academic code of conduct or plagiarism. However, the university's decision drew a backlash from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). DPK lawmaker Rep. Kang Min-jung said the university has given up its reputation as an academic institution, “I think Aug. 1, 2022, is the date when the university declared itself dead,” she said on an YTN radio news sho

Aug 2, 2022By Lee Hae-rin
Kookmin University denies first lady plagiarism allegations

Ruling party to propose bills promoting growth of chips, advanced industries

Rep. Yang Hyang-ja, center, a Samsung Electronics executive-turned-lawmaker leading the ruling People Power Party's special panel on the semiconductor industry, holds a press conference at the National Assembly complex in western Seoul, Tuesday. YonhapThe ruling People Power Party (PPP) will propose a package of two bills to strengthen Korea's competitiveness in the semiconductor industry, the party's special panel on chips said Tuesday. One of the bills calls for enabling a government committee to designate special zones on strategic industries and provide support for their establishment, and expanding education programs to foster students to work in such key industries, including specialized high schools.The other bill calls for extending the period of tax credit for investments in high-tech industries to 2030, with the deduction rate raised to 20 percent for conglomerates, 25 percent for midsized enterprises and 30 percent for small businesses from the current 6 to 16 percent range.The bills also stipulate extending the tax exemption period for foreign technical experts in the are

Aug 2, 2022
Ruling party to propose bills promoting growth of chips, advanced industries

Yoon orders discussion on plan to lower school entry age

A group of civic activists stages a rally in Seoul, Monday, calling for the government to withdraw a plan to move up the elementary school entry age by one year to 5 starting as early as 2025. YonhapPresident Yoon Suk-yeol has ordered the education ministry to swiftly put to public debate the government's proposal to lower the elementary school starting age by one year to 5, an official said Tuesday.Yoon also instructed the ministry to play a role in facilitating bipartisan discussions about the plan in the National Assembly because the plan is subject to parliamentary approval, said senior presidential secretary for social affairs Ahn Sang-hoon. "Even if necessary reforms are needed, public discussion and deliberation are needed due to conflicts of interest among stakeholders, so the Ministry of Education should quickly push for public discussion and act as a facilitator for bipartisan discussion in the National Assembly," Yoon told Ahn. The remarks are seen as a step backward after many teachers and parents have been voicing objections to the plan that they say could further deepen

Aug 2, 2022
Yoon orders discussion on plan to lower school entry age
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